Taliban ban women from

parks and funfairs

                Kabul, The Taliban have banned Afghan women from entering the capital’s public parks and funfairs, just months after ordering access to be segregated by gender.

                  The new rule, introduced this week, further squeezes women out of an ever-shrinking public space that already sees them banned from traveling without a male escort and forced to wear a hijab or burqa whenever out of the home.

                  Schools for teenage girls have also been shut for over a year across most of the country.

                  “For the past 15 months, we tried our best to arrange and sort it out — and even specified the days,” said Mohammad Akif Sadeq Mohajir, spokesman for the Ministry for the Prevention of Vice and Promotion of Virtue.

                  “But still, in some places — in fact, we must say in many places — the rules were violated,” he told AFP late Wednesday.

                  “There was mixing (of men and women), hijab was not observed, that’s why the decision has been taken for now.”

                  The news was met with dismay by women and park operators — who invested heavily in developing the facilities.

                  “There are no schools, no work… we should at least have a place to have fun,” said one mother, who asked to be identified only as Wahida, as she watched her children play in a park through the window of an adjoining restaurant.

                  “We are just bored and fed up with being at home all day, our minds are tired,” she told AFP.

                  At the next table, Raihana, 21, who is studying Islamic law at university, shared her disappointment after arriving at the park to spend the day with her sisters.

                  “We were very excited… we are tired of staying at home,” she said.

                  “Obviously, in Islam, it is allowed to go out and visit parks. When you have no freedom in your own country, then what does it mean to live here?”

                   – ‘Idle attractions’ –

                  A few kilometers away, the Ferris wheel and most of the other rides in Zazai Park — which offers a spectacular view of the city — have ground to a sudden halt because of a lack of business.

                  Before this week’s ban, it could accommodate hundreds of visitors on days when women brought their children for family gatherings.

                  On Fridays and public holidays, even more would flock to the park — one of the few attractions in the city. 

                  On Wednesday, only a handful of men wandered nonchalantly through the complex.

                  Habib Jan Zazai, co-developer of the complex, fears he may have to close down a business that he has poured $11 million into, and which employs more than 250 people.

                  “Without women, the children will not come alone,” he told AFP.

                  He warned such edicts would discourage investment by foreigners or Afghans living abroad, as well as impact revenue collection.

                  “A government is run by taxes. If an investor is not paying tax, then how can they run?”

                  Mohammad Tamim, 20, sipping tea in the park during a visit from Kandahar, where he teaches at a madrassa, called the ban “bad news”.

                  “Every human psychologically needs to be entertained,” he said.

LAHORE: A meeting of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) presided over by former prime minister Imran Khan on Wednesday demanded that the assemblies should be dissolved for early elections to pave the way for immediate elections in all four provinces.

PTI senators, members of the National Assembly, members of the Provincial Assembly will go to the Supreme Court to register the FIR of the attack in Wazirabad.

During the meeting, matters pertaining to country’s overall political situation, next phase of Haqiqi Azadi March and other important issues came under discussion.

Former federal ministers Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Asad Umar, Fawad Chaudhry, Senator Azam Swati, Umar Ayub, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, Mian Aslam Iqbal, Hammad Azhar, Ijaz Chaudhry, Shafqat Mehmood, and other party leaders attended the meeting.

During the meeting, Punjab Home Advisor Umar Sarfraz Cheema presented the preliminary forensic report regarding the Wazirabad attack to the party leadership.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Umer Sarfraz Cheema said that the forensic report of the incident revealed that there were more than one attacker, while an attempt to create religious narrative against the former PM has completely failed.

On the occasion, PTI secretary information Farrukh Habib said that the second phase of the long march was discussed in a more than two-hour meeting and termed the attack on party chairman an attack on 22 crore people. He said Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah should be ashamed of his statements, adding that if any officer tries to covertly pressurize the investigation of this incident, will also be exposed, while the time of governor rule in the province is over, now only people s will rule.

Doors open for talks

On Tuesday, Imran Khan in a series of Tweets said that for the future of Pakistan, the doors of PTI are open to all democratic loving forces to join our struggle for Justice.

The former prime minister wrote that his lawyers will give his position on the issue of the farcical FIR. Imran Khan said, “All my life I dreamt of seeing my country as a prospering welfare state & my struggle throughout has been to make this dream a reality for my nation.”

The PTI chairman also wrote, “Today the nation has awakened, understood & risen in support of my message of justice, freedom & national sovereignty. When we are so close to our goal no fear or threat of death can stop my struggle.”

“Our peaceful protests & dialogue are only for Pakistan s Haqeeqi Azadi.”

“For the future of Pakistan the doors of PTI are open to all democratic loving forces to join our struggle for Justice, rule of law & freedom from foreign subservience – our goal of Haqeeqi Azadi,” he added.

Meeting with journalists

On the other hand, talking to journalists at Zaman Park, the former premier had announced to challenge the First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Wazirabad police assassination bid. 

Imran Khan said he knew that he would be shot, and in this regard, a video had been recorded in which he mentioned the names of the people who were behind the attack, adding that a plot was made to kill him in the same way that Punjab Governor Salman Taseer was assassinated by using extremism.

Imran Khan went on to say that accused Naveed’s statement was based on lies adding that Tehreek-e-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) chief Saad Rizivi has also denied any contact with accused Naveed. “I have no issue with the army, we have only differences over the accountability process,” Imran added.

In response to another question, he said that a coalition government should never be formed, otherwise there will always be blackmail. “f there is a two-thirds majority, the prime minister is strong and can perform better,” said Imran Khan.

FIR lodged

Previously, a case of attack Imran Khan during the long march has been registered in Wazirabad city police station.

According to details, the FIR has been registered by sub-inspector Aamir Shahzad on Monday night. The case of firing on former Prime Minister Imran Khan was registered under the provisions of murder, attempted murder and anti-terrorism, while only Naveed, the man who was arrested on the spot, has been named as an accused in the case.

The FIR stated that Imran Khan was coming from Allah wala chowk to Wazirabad on a container and around 4 pm the suspect Naveed opened fire with a pistol. A PTI supporter named Muazzam who was involved in the march, died of gunshot wounds, while chairman PTI was injured on the container. The FIR also mentioned 11 known and some unknown injured.

It further stated that a PTI worker tried to catch the accused Naveed, and so he could not fire any further due to being held by the worker. After the tragic incident, Imran Khan left for Lahore for proper treatment after receiving medical aid.

On the other hand, the Long March attack took place in Wazirabad, which is a part of Gujarat division. The Chief Minister Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi had issued a notification to make Wazirabad a district and add it to Gujarat Division.

According to the FIR registered by the police, the incident of firing on Imran Khan and other leaders during the long march took place in Gujranwala. In this regard the sources said that, the investigation may be affected due to the change of district, however, the police termed it as a clerical error and said that it will be rectified.

Marchers from across Pakistan to reach Rawalpindi by November’s third week: PTI

Imran says will disclose one more name involved in Wazirabad attack; preparations underway as PTI set to resume long march on Thursday.

ISLAMABAD, NOV 09 (DNA) — The Directorate General of Public Relations of the Pakistan Air Force on Wednesday released a short documentary video paying tribute to the poet of the East, Dr Allama Muhammad Iqbal on the occasion of his birth anniversary.

The short documentary highlighted that Iqbal’s poetry has depth of thought and insight. The creation of the motherland had been accomplished by his intellectual efforts, it added.

By terming the young generation as Shaheen (Eagle), Iqbal wanted to inculcate in them a lofty idea, passion for action, wide vision and boldness, and also wanted to fully fulfill their curiosity.

According to Iqbal the Shaheen’s life is self-deprecating, curious in its nature and swooping in its habit. “He is the only ruler of vast space who loves the skies and heights,” the documentary mentioned the vision of Iqbal for youth as Shaheen.

The documentary renewed the pledge that every Shaheen of Pakistan Air Force was always ready to protect the motherland and would not spare any sacrifice if required. =DNA